Method of forming axle-housings



A. L. PUTNAM.

METHOD OF FORMI-NG AXLE HOUSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. ISI8.

A 1,384,485. Patented July 12,1921.

' rear or driving axles.

ourrsn- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.EZLDEN l]. PUTNALM, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS,

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RATIUN O DELAWBBIE.

OF W'ILMINGTDN, DELAWARE, A CORPO- METHOD OF FORNIING AXLE-HOUSINGS.

il',38 .t,485.

Specification of Letters .Patent. Patented July 1 1921 Application filedEieptember 25, 1918. Serial No. 255,639;

To all-whomit may concern: 7

Be it known that I, Anions L. PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, re siding at Detroit, in the county of "Wayne and State ofhiichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mothodsoi Forming Axle-Housings, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing i's.

The invention relates to axle housings and more particularly to thattype employed for It is the object of the invention to obtain aconstruction which may be formed of pressed metal, combining theadvantages of the cast metal and sheet metal constructions as heretoforemanufactured, and also having additional advarr tages as hereinafter setforth.

1n the present state of the art axle housings of one type a re -formedof pressed sheet metal of uniform gage, but to secure the, necessarystrength reinforcements are required; for instance, the outer ends whicharry the wheel-supporting boa-rings require reinforcement and it is alsodesirable to reiniorce the central portion which houses and supports thedifferential gearing. In another type of structure the housing is formedof cast metal with the reinforcements integral therewith, but thisrequires greater weight to secure the necessary strength and isotherwise less desirable in the pressed metal construction.

With the present invention the advantages of the two types are combinedby forming the axle housing; from a flat metal blank of I varyingthickness, the metal being distributcd in a predeterminedmanner andthen" pressing this blank to the desired form. In this way the portionsof the metal which are of greater thickness will form the desiredreinforcements which are properly lo- (rated and the whole constrrctionwill be integral with the increased strength oi wrought metal over [it tmetal.

in tho. d mwings:

Fl} es l. l and .1" are respectively a plan riow and side elovatirm. oithe original Maui; and a piuu view site/r the first opera-- iiou; I

his. 2 is a lmuritudiiud section through an apparatus for mrl'oraniugthefirst pen ation on the blank to vary the thickness of different portionsthereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view after the second operation;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. i is a side elevation of the pressed halt section of the axle;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the-complete axle.

The housing embodying my invention comprises two similar sections whichare joined to each other along the longitudinal plane, preferably bywelding. These sec tions A and A have end portions B which aresubstantially semi-cylindrical in form but are provided with reinforcingribs C to increase the strength thereof. The central' portion D of. thehousing is enlarged to receive the dili'erential gearing and between thecent 'al portion and the end portions are tapering portions E. The gageof the metal is "varied in the several portions, being oi greatestthickness in the end portions and at'thc center where the differentialgear ing is housed and support-echwhile the tapering portions betweenthe center and the ends are of less thickness, gradually merlging intothe portions of greater thickness.

' To form this structure a fiat blank is first prepared. with the metalvaried in gage and properly distributed to form the requiredreinforcements. This operation is illustrated in Fig. 2 in which a flatbar of metal, shown in Figs. 1 and l, is rolled-between the rollers Fand (it. These rollers have a. limited oscillatory movement impartedthereto by suitable means, such as the crank arms H, links 1, connectingrod 1 and actuating crank J, the effect oli such movement being toreciprocate the work between the rolls. The rolls are also variablypressed toward oaoh ptlrer by suitable means, such as the adjustingscrew of one of the rolls toward those of the others. The periphery ofthe rolls is also fashioned to produce in the blank an annular bead L orother reinforcement at the same time that the metal is being thinned inother portions. 7 r" and Fig. 2, the blank after this rolling operationis elongated and widened in the portion rolled, leaving end. portions ofthe original thickness and width. Between the router and thiclterportions the gage of the K, for rnoving the journals Thus, as shown inFig. 1

metal is gradually tapered. While at the center is forined'the leadreinforcement L, before referred to.

The next operation upon the blank is illustrated in Figs. 3 and a andconsists in fnshinentztry half sections ar then welded to each other asshown in Fig What I claim as my invention is 1. The process of formingaxle housings, comprising the forming of a blank of" varying gage, dropforging'the thicker portions of said blank to fashion the same, and presing the thinner portions.

2. The process of forming housings, comprisingthe rolling of e lather tothin v and Widen the central portion thereof leer- 111g end portionsoforign al th ckness and nose ies

comprising reciprocating a fist bar beta 21. pair of rolls to thin andWiden the central portion of said our.

e. The process of forming axle housings 0 comprising the reciprocatiemof (let oars l tween rolls to thin and. Widen the ce ter PQltlOllthereof leaving the end portions of origiriial thickness and Width andthe formetion by said rolls of integral reinforcements 35 upon. saidher.

5. The process of forming axle housings, comprising the rolling of ufiat her to thin and widen the center portion thereof, lesv- 111g endportions of original thickness and Width, and the subsequent fashioningof said center portion and end portions to form re spectively a housingfor the diiferentinl gearing and axle housing.

in testimony whereof 1 mill my signature.

ALDEN L, PETER-1M.

